JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Education on Sunday accused human rights group Section 27 of meddling in teachers' duties after the organisation criticised the ministry's catch-up plan in the wake of the Limpopo textbook crisis.

The department said the plan is in full swing but said Section 27 cannot dictate how teachers do their jobs.

The organisation obtained a court order forcing the department to deliver textbooks to all schools in Limpopo after an irregular tender was cancelled.

Panyaza Lesufi said Section 27 cannot tell the ministry how to run the catch-up plan.

“Teachers are the ones that teach in classrooms, lawyers go to court. Why do the lawyers want to develop a catch-up plan for teachers?”

Lesufi added that Minister Angie Motshegka will visit the province to check on the readiness of learning centres where pupils will get extra lessons during the holidays.

“The minister is going there to assess the catch-up plan. It is in full swing.”

He said all teacher unions, teachers and principals have endorsed the plan and that the catch up plan is ready for implementation during the September school holidays.